[28] Gondomar had been raised to the Council of State during the early morning sitting, and on his first visit that day (Saturday) to the English embassy he came rushing to the Prince in his usual boisterously jocose fashion, saying that he had a strange piece of news to convey. "An Englishman had been sworn a Privy Councillor of Spain," meaning, as Howel (who tells the story) says, himself, who, he professed, was an Englishman at heart. This was the kind of joke by which he had managed to dominate King James. [29] _Familiar Letters_. The sequence of events, meetings, etc., as given in _Life and Times of James I._, is untrustworthy. [30] Howel. [31] Hardwicke, _State Papers_. Charles and Buckingham to the King. [32] We are told that on this occasion Olivares, notwithstanding the Prince's remonstrance, insisted upon taking the humble seat at the carriage doorstep; and that throughout the whole visit he treated Charles with the same honours as he did the King, kneeling when he spoke to him, kissing his hand, etc. Charles, on the other hand, appears to have been equally polite to Olivares; but Buckingham soon got tired of an attitude so unusual to him, and behaved himself with extraordinary rudeness and ill-breeding, as will be told later. _Hecho de los Tratados_, etc. [33] Lord Bristol, in his defence (Camden Miscellany, vi.) gives an account of a conversation in the coach when the Prince, Bristol, Gondomar, Olivares, Buckingham, and Aston were waiting for the royal party to pass on the Sunday referred to in the text. This shows how entirely Olivares had convinced them all of his sincerity. Gondomar in boastful mood had asked Olivares if he was not justified now in all he had written from England about the real desire of King James for the marriage; and whether Bristol and himself had not proved themselves honest men. "Yes," replied Olivares, "you may both say your _Nunc Dimitis_ now, and trouble no more about it, except to claim the reward of success." No blame, he said, could attach to them in any case. [34] Hardwicke, _State Papers_. [35] _Hecho de los Tratados_, etc. B.M. MSS. Add. 14,043. [36] The dates given throughout are old style, according to the English calendar of the time. The Spanish dates are ten days later. [37] MSS. Soto y Aguilar. [38] Hardwicke, _State Papers_. [39] Most of the poets and poetasters of the Court were convinced of this, and the romantic love-making of the Prince, who for the sweet eyes of the Infanta was to make England Catholic, inspired many verses. Howel sends to a friend in England one stanza of such a poem written at this time, he says by Lope de Vega-- Carlos Estuardo, soy, Que siendo amor mi guia. Al cielo de España voy. Par ver mi estrella Maria. Charles Stuart, here am I, Guided by love afar Into the Spanish sky, To see Maria my star. Gongora's fine sonnet, translated by Churton, is worth quoting entire--